Nation

Najib: Don’t overreact to Rayer’s remark

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has condemned the Umno celaka (Umno be damned) remark made by a DAP assemblyman, calling it “derogatory and unbecoming”.

Uttered by Penang DAP Seri Delima assemblyman R.S.N. Rayer at the Penang state assembly, the remark has sparked anger among Umno members.

“I strictly condemn the derogatory remarks.

“We may differ in our political opinion but being abusive is uncalled for,” the Prime Minister said in a statement that appeared on his official Facebook page yesterday.

“This type of action incites disharmony as after all, we are all Malaysians,” he added.

However, Najib, who is also Umno president, urged all party members not to react excessively and tarnish the party’s name.

“I call upon all Umno members not to overreact by doing things against the law or what is deemed to be irresponsible.

“Any reaction should be within the bounds of the law and we must strive to continue to uphold the good image of our party. Jaga nama baik parti kita (Protect our party’s good name),” added Najib, who is on a three-day official visit to Kazakhstan.

Umno members have staged a series of protests in Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Kuantan over Rayer’s refusal to apologise.

On Friday, a group calling itself Gabungan Pemuda Melayu Kuantan showed up at the DAP’s office, pelting the door with eggs. They also kicked the door.

On Thursday, Federal Territories Umno Youth gathered outside the DAP national headquarters in Kuala Lumpur and threatened to burn the building and damaged the signage.

A day earlier, members of Penang Umno Youth barged into the assembly hall to look for Rayer and demand an apology, but he was not around.

In TELUK INTAN, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hisham­muddin Hussein said the threat to burn down the DAP headquarters should be investigated.

“It is not proper (for the threat to be made),” he said during a gotong-royong at the Kampung Padang Tembak mosque.

“Let us not be emotional. We don’t know why or how it happened,” said the Umno vice-president.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng urged the police to act against those responsible for the confrontation at the DAP office in Kuantan.

Describing it as deplorable, he said the party was discussing whether to take legal action over the damage caused.